We are not going to engage in some sort of a dialogue as an end in and of it's self. Dialogue should and must lead to some substantial fundamental change in the body politics of Uganda. That said, the opposition cannot engage the dictatorship in any meaningful "dialogue" when the legs and arms, so to say, of the opposition parties are chained to tight to a pole, the mouth gaged...e.t.c ( you get my drift)
Matek
Will the Transition Dialogue Will Opposition Groups Yield Fruit?
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New Vision (Kampala)
October 29, 2003
Posted to the web October 29, 2003
Asuman Bisiika
Kampala
Government has named a team that will hold talks with opposition groups in the country to chart a way for the transition from the movement political system to political pluralism.
Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, the National Political Commissar and Minister without Portfolio, said the objective of the talks with the opposition groups was to reach a national consensus on what he called "the common good". In a recent exclusive interview with The New Vision, Kiyonga said all political players must recognise and appreciate the existence of national ideals and objectives that cut across partisan interest. "Even when we may not agree with each other on certain issues in the political arena, there are national ideals that should still be held sacrosanct by all the political players to guide our actions and reactions," Dr. Kiyonga said.
Some of the issues, Dr. Kiyonga said, that would form the basis for articulating the common good are security, stability of national policies and economic growth. Others are a strong state, the rule of law, territorial integrity and equity in resource allocations.
It should be remembered that when government hinted on the opening of political space, opposition political groups were unanimous in calling for the holding of a national conference in which the transition to political pluralism would be charted. Government was opposed to the idea. Well, government has now realised that it is wise to dialogue with opposition groups.
But before the political elite in Kampala usurps the transitional process, they should be able to address the following questions: How representative are the political players to articulate popular interests? Are there other popular interests outside the manifestos of the political players? These and other concerns should be addressed in order to have well-defined national ideals.
Some observers say that government's new offer brings a multiplicity in the transitional process. There is the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) charged to make recommendations for constitutional amendments to suit new national desires, challenges and the political transition. Then there is the court process where some opposition groups are challenging some laws that are not in consonance with the national spirit and mood. In addition to the above, now government wants to hold a dialogue with opposition political forces.
But in a recent interview, Dr. Kiyonga said the different processes were not a multiplicity but an attempt to address different socio-political interests.
"The outcome of these processes will ultimately have to be harmonised through a constitutional framework. The constitution remains the ultimate point of reference to harmonise positions. So, the fear of multiplicity does not arise," said Kiyonga.
Dr James Rwanyarare, the Chairman of the Presidential Policy Commission of the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC), said the idea of a national conference is good, but it depends on how committed the government is to the idea. Rwanyarare said: "We have always challenged the government to come up with a White Paper giving a detailed roadmap for the transition. We are even ready to participate in the drawing of the roadmap. It is this white paper that should be discussed in a National Conference."
Hon. Geoffrey Ekanya, the MP for Tororo County and Secretary General of Reform Agenda, said his group welcomes the idea of a national conference to chat out the transition process. He however, said the conference should be broadened to go beyond the political opposition in Kampala.
"If the government is serious with the idea of the conference, it should involve all stakeholders ranging from armed groups, unarmed groups and members of the civil society. The involvement of all stakeholders will give the conference a national character," Ekanya said.
Asked how all the multiple processes geared to the transition would be harmonised, Ekanya said he wishes the conference to be limited to charting a way to the transition from the Movement monopoly on power to multipartism.
